On March 23, 2010, the national health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law.  The law includes several measures that fundamentally change the health care system in the United States.  Some of the law’s major provisions include:

•  Requiring that most U.S. citizens and legal residents have health insurance by 2014
•  The creation of Create state-based exchanges through which individuals can purchase coverage, with subsidies available to lower-income individuals
•  A major expansion of the Medicaid program for the nation’s poorest individuals
•  Requiring employers to cover their employees or pay penalties, with exceptions for small employers
•  New regulations on health plans in the private market requiring them to cover all individuals, regardless of health status
•  Establishment of a national, voluntary insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services
•  Increases in payments for primary care services
•  Greater support for prevention, wellness, and public health activities

The law is expansive and will be implemented over several years, with all the major provisions taking effect by January 2014.  This section contains resources that explain the overall health reform law and its impact on other sectors of the economy, particular health programs, and different populations.